000			01942cam a2200181 4500
020			_a9781920800253 (pbk)
100	1		_aCLARK Chris
245			_aOperation Pelican : _bthe Royal Australian Air Force in the Berlin Airlift 1948-1949 / _cChris Clark.
260			_aCanberra : _bAir Power Development Centre, _c2008
300			_aix, 86p. : _bill. + _eCD-ROM.
520			_aIn 1948 Britain, France and the United States of America found themselves opposed to their former wartime ally, the Soviet Union, over matters regarding control of the capital of the defeated Nazi German regime. When the Soviets imposed a blockade of the city, the Allies had no option but to begin flying in the necessities of life for the two million inhabitants of the zones under their administration. Thus began the first large-scale humanitarian airlift in history. When Britain turned for support to its Dominion partners, the transport element of the Royal Australian Air Force had recently ceased flying a regular courier service for Australian occupation forces involved in garrisoning another defeated Axis power of World War II, Japan - this role having been handed over to a commercial airline. By September 1948 an unnumbered Australian squadron had joined other RAAF transport crews already engaged as part of the massive allied undertaking. To the Americans the fifteen-month-long operation was codenamed Vittles, while the British called it Plainfare. But to the Royal Australian Air Force personnel involved, the Berlin Airlift was known as Pelican. Here the story is told of the events that made the airlift necessary, what the undertaking entailed and the part that Australians played in it, as well as the outcome and achievements of Operation Pelican.
650			_aBERLIN AIRLIFT
650			_aAUSTRALIA _xAIR OPERATIONS
650			_aOPERATION PELICAN
945			_i30302-1001 _j2 _rY _sY
945			_i30302-1002 _rY _sY
945			_i30302-2001 _rY _sY
999			_c15773 _d15773